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Updated: May 10, 2025
One evening as we three were sitting in Ould Michael's main room, McFarquhar ventured to express his surprise at Ould Michael's continued "darkness" as he said: "My friend," said the minister, solemnly, "it has been given me that you are the man to lead him into the light." "God pity me!" exclaimed McFarquhar. "That I could lead any man!"
Ould Michael steed in silence beside his friend for some moments. "All well, Michael?" asked McFarquhar. "They are, that," answered the old soldier, with a happy sigh. "Och, 'tis the lovely land it is, and it's ha-ard to kape away from it." "I am thinking you are better away from it than in it," said McFarquhar, dryly.
Ould Michael gazed at him in amazed surprise and, after the full meaning of the joke had dawned upon him, burst out into laughter. "Bedad, McFarquhar, it's the first joke ye iver made, but the less fraquent they are the better I loike them." So saying, he mounted his pony and, once more saluting me and then the flag, made off with his friend.
"McFarquhar," he said with quivering voice, "I don't understand much that ye've been sayin' to me, but if the war is still goin' on, an' if he's afther recruits any more bedad it's mesilf wud like to join."
Then the matter-of-fact McFarquhar, unable to understand these sentimental considerations, but secretly delighted that he had got Ould Michael to unbosom himself, began to draw him. "Not twenty years, Michael." "Twenty-foive years it is, an' more, I'm tellin' ye," replied Ould Michael, "an' niver wance did the inimy see the back av me coat or the dust av me heels; an' to think "
McFarquhar took my hand in his paw and gave me a grasp so cordial that, were it not for the shame of it, I would have roared out in agony. "I am proud to make the acquaintance of you," he said, with a strong highland accent. "You will be a stranger in these parts?"
The little crowd that had gathered round took up my cheer. "What do ye mean, byes?" said Ould Michael, weakly. "It means," said McFarquhar, "that if you have the strength you must look after your mail as the postmaster should." There was a joyous five minutes of congratulation; then the precession formed as before and, led by Ould Michael, marched into the old cabin.
"And more," said the minister, in deepening tones, "it is borne in upon me that his blood will be upon you." McFarquhar's look of horror and fear was pitiable and his voice rose in an agony of appeal. "God be merciful to me! you will not be saying such a word as that." "Fear not," replied the minister, "he will be given to you for a jewel in your crown." McFarquhar was deeply impressed.
As to McFarquhar, it was easy to see from his face that the prayer was only another proof that the minister had "the gift," but to the others, who had never had McFarquhar's privilege, it was only a marvelous, though impressive performance. Before he closed, however, he remembered the people before him and, in simple, strong, heart-reaching words, he prayed for their salvation.
Then McFarquhar fell into great distress and looked at me imploringly. I rose and went into the next room, closing the door behind me. Then, though I tried to make a noise with the chairs, there rose the sound of McFarquhar's voice; but not with the cadence of the Gaelic prayer.
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